Column-support.



PATENTED DEC. '1', 1903,.

7 T. -L. BEAUFAIT. comm: SUPPORT.

APPLIOATION FILED KARL 16, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 1, 1903.

TH EODORE -L. BEAU FAIT,

OF GROSSEPOINTE, MICHIGAN.

COLUMN-SUPPORT.

SPEGIFIO'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,31 5, dated December 1. L903.

animal] filed March'lfi, 1903. Serial No. 147,891. (No model.)

To an whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE L. BEAU- FAI'I, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grossepointe, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C01- umn-Supports, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in bases for columns, and especially to bases for porch-columns and the like, its object being to prevent the decaying of the lower. end of the column and adjacent parts of the structure caused by accumulated dampness beneath the end of the columns where it rests upon the floor and also to provide a base which may be used to repair columns which have become decayed.

The invention further aims to provide a base which is effectual in its operation, is durable and inexpensive to manufacture, and to provide the same with certain other new and useful features, all as hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention and showing the same ,in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing thebase-plate and adjacent parts of the porch structure in section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base-plate; Fig. 5, an inverted plan view of the column-plate, and Fig. 6 a modified form of column-plate for square column.

As shown in the drawings, A is the column, B the porch-floor, and O the sill supporting the floor and column, said sill being cut away su'fficiently to receive the base-plate D, which projects beneath the fioor a short distance at its sides and one end, the floor being cut away above the middle portion of the plate, so that all water from the fioor will be received by the plate, which is provided with grooves D in its upper face to conduct the water off. he endof the plate toward which the grooves extendprojects beyond the sill and its facing as far or farther than the floor, and in the under side of the plate, adjacent to the'projecting end is a transverse groove D to prevent the water from running back on the The plate D is plate and down the facing.

also provided with a central hollow boss D forming a tapered socket, which has lateral openings I) through its sides, and secured to the lower endof the column A is a columnplate E, provided with a downwardly-proj ecting tapered lug F of a size to fit within the tapered socket or hollow boss D and provided with a transverse opening in line with the openings D to receive the pins F and secure the lower end of the column in place.

There are notches D in the sides of the plate D for the engagement of nails or spikes to secure the plate to the sill, and similar notches F are provided in the edge of the plate F to receive the spikes which secure said plate to the column. Said plate F is preferably made of smaller diameter than the diameter of the column, so that the water running down the column will not flow over the plate, but will drop directly from the column to the floor. hen. a rectangular column is used, a plate of the form shown in Fig. 6 is provided. v

In repairing porches where the lower ends of the columns have become decayed the decayed ends are cut off at the proper distance from the floor and the plates F spiked in place. The decayed portions of the floor are then cut away and also portions of the sill to receive the plates D, which are then spiked in place and the lugs F inserted in the bosses and secured therein by driving in the pins F thus making a very neat and durable repair. As the floor-boards lie on top of the platesD and are not engaged by the column-base,they may be taken up at any time without disturbing the column.

In this construction the wood upon which the column-base rests is thoroughly protected from the water by the base, the arrangement being such that all water is conveyed away by the base and not allowed to soak into the wood and is prevented from running down on the facing and discoloring the same by the groove D Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a column-base, the combination of a base-plate adapted to be secured to the sill with one end projecting beyond the sill and face of said plate to conduct the water from the floor and column off the projecting end of said plate, a transverse groove in the lower face of said plate between the sill-facing and the projecting end, and means for securing the column to the base-plate.

2. In a column-base, the combination of a rectangular base-plate provided with grooves in its upper face extending to one end of said plate, a central hollow boss on said plate haw ing lateral openings, a c0lun1n-plate of lesser diameter than the diameter of the column and adapted to be secured to the lower end thereof, a lug on said column-plate having a transverse opening and adapted to engage the hollow boss, and a pin to engage the openings in the boss and lug and secure the same together.

' 3. In a column-base, the combination of a rectangular base-plate adapted to be secured to the sill with its sides and one end extending beneath the floor a short distance and projecting beyond the sill and facing at its opposite end, said plate being provided with grooves in its upper face to conduct the water from the floor and column off its projecting end and also provided with a transverse THEODORE L. BEAUFAIT. Witnesses:

THOMAS C. TRINITY, Orro F. BARTHEL.

my signature 

